After years of dancing through the spotlight and weathering storms both on and off stage, Derek Hough is opening up about something far more personal: the dream of starting a family. The Dancing with the Stars judge, who tied the knot with longtime love Hayley Erbert in 2023, recently shared that children are “on the horizon” for the couple — a gentle tease that has fans buzzing with excitement.
The conversation resurfaced after Hough took to Instagram on March 24 to wish fellow pro Val Chmerkovskiy a happy birthday. Alongside a throwback photo, Hough penned a heartfelt message, thanking Val not only for pushing him as a performer and competitor, but also for being “an example of a great father for when that day comes.” It was a subtle but telling hint at what’s been on Hough’s mind lately.
The couple has never hidden their desire to become parents. In fact, Hough previously admitted that meeting Val and Jenna Chmerkovskiy’s baby boy, Rome, shifted his perspective on timing. “There wasn’t a rush on [having kids] until we just met Val and Jenna’s baby, and that was when it was kinda like, ‘Should we get on this now?’” he told Entertainment Tonight in 2023. Val’s words to Derek only deepened that feeling: “For somebody who was created to create, this will be your ultimate creation.”
By September 2024, Hough confirmed to E! News that family plans were definitely in the couple’s future. “We definitely want to have a family eventually. We’ll see what’s in the cards, what’s on the horizon. Little dancing children running around,” he said with a smile, leaving fans picturing tiny Houghs twirling across the living room floor.
For now, though, Hough and Erbert have remained focused on their careers. They’ve spent the past few years touring together, dazzling audiences across the U.S., while Hough continues his role as a judge on Dancing with the Stars. Erbert, meanwhile, has been rumored as a potential future pro on the show herself. When asked if that could pose a conflict of interest, Hough brushed it off, reminding fans that his sister Julianne once judged while he competed — and held him to an even higher standard.
Career commitments aside, it’s clear the idea of family is growing closer for the couple. Both have endured challenges — from the grueling pace of touring to Erbert’s life-threatening health scare in late 2023 — and now seem to be embracing the quieter dreams beyond the stage.
What makes this moment resonate with fans is the intimacy behind the revelation. Hough didn’t make a formal announcement or set a timeline. Instead, he offered a glimpse into the life he and Hayley imagine together: one filled with laughter, music, and perhaps little ones learning their first steps to the rhythm of dance.
For a performer whose life has been defined by choreography, Derek Hough may be preparing for his most unscripted role yet — fatherhood. And if his words are any indication, the next chapter in the Hough-Erbert love story will be their most beautiful duet of all.
